Thai fishermen protest against strict control measures

[webfact]

FISHERY
Fishermen protest against strict control measures
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- WITH thousands of fishing vessels docked in the south and eastern regions yesterday, the president of the Fisheries Association of Thailand said fishermen were being severely affected by National Council for Peace and Order’s strict regulations.

To tackle this, Phubet Chanthanimi said the fishermen would turn to provincial governors for assistance or even petition His Majesty for justice.

The Command Centre to Combat Illegal Fishing has set measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing including regulating fishing gear and implementing a "fishing days scheme", due to be initially implemented from this month till November.

Under to the scheme, licensed fishing vessels with surrounding nets (except purse seines for anchovies) will not be allowed to operate in the Gulf of Thailand on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 11th, 12th, 13th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd of every month. Vessels with surrounding nets in the Andaman Sea and vessels with trawl nets in the Gulf and Andaman Sea must not operate on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 11th and 12th of every month.

The association's president made his comments when he and some 1,000 fishing boat-owners and crewmembers gathered outside Pattani City Hall yesterday to submit a letter to the provincial governor. In the letter, they listed adverse impacts from the moves, especially the "fishing days" system, would have on their livelihood.

Phubet said the government should have spoken to fishermen and concerned parties first.

Khomdech Rattanapornwarisakul, honorary adviser to the Rayong Fisheries Association, agreed, saying the "fishing days" scheme would deal another blow to the fishing industry and fishermen should be consulted before it is implemented.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan province, president of the Pran Buri Fisheries Association Atichat Chaisri said said that Governor Weera Sriwattanatrakul had met fishermen and representatives of the port-in port-out control centre and the Fishery Department.

In the meeting, the governor concluded that the nine-day per month ban on fishing in the Gulf would be reduced to five. He said that Weera would put the fishermen's demands to the Interior Ministry via a teleconference later yesterday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fishermen-protest-against-strict-control-measures-30267942.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-02

[KarenBravo]

They have a choice. Either comply, or, lose their European markets.

[Thian]

The only fish i see on BKK markets are from fishfarms.

Seafish here is very expensive and you even have to buy the guts/skin/fins for the price of a fillet. Also they always hide the price (of seafish only) so they can overcharge me and the Thai.

[NongKhaiKid]

They have a choice. Either comply, or, lose their European markets.

But let us continue as we have always done, the EU will understand. Everyone understands LoS.

[quandow]

I protest against the laws of gravity, doesn't do any good. Get used to it, fishermen, you've finally been exposed.

[lujanit]

They have a choice. Either comply, or, lose their European markets.

Wrong. It is every Thais inalienable right to make a living regardless of whether their activities are legal or not. Farang just don't understand Thainess. Sell illegal drugs openly, obstruct footpaths with illegal stalls, human trafficking, selling 'higher paid' positions in the RTP, fishing without legal permits, taking undersized fish, cops paying themselves reward money, district officers demanding money for approval of construction projects, IO officers daily accepting money to 'accept' sub-requirement documentation, encroaching on National Parks to build a speedway, mafia run tourist islands, cops being killed by HiSo and not being even charged with manslaughter . Hell I could go on forever with this list.

Accept it. Thainess = corruption = face and corruption is a way of life here.

Read the OP. "In the meeting, the governor concluded that the nine-day per month ban on fishing in the Gulf would be reduced to five. He said that Weera would put the fishermen's demands to the Interior Ministry via a teleconference later yesterday." So now we have unlicensed boat owners who engage in human misery, who catch illegal fish making demands and the Interior Ministry are going to listen to them. Thainess = bah jing jing face saving as long as you pay the piper.

[manhood]

Mhhhh well something very serious should happen in Thailand: fishermen should do their work under a strict law.............please don't let happen this in Thailand as it would effect many more laws which must be respected and are then also monitored and enforced by the competent authorities....

God that's the demise of freedom in Thailand!!!

Ups but working well all around the world!

[Peabody]

"Phubet said the government should have spoken to fishermen and concerned parties first."

They did. They used a communication tool called laws and regulations.

[sawadee1947]

all nonsense. They are negotiating since more than 6 months already. I hope PM will proceed with international rules or EU will ban them

[Kannikapor88]

Its good that they openly show everybody that they are not gonna change - Slam dunk for a ban from EU ...

[Lupatria]

fishermen would turn to provincial governors for assistance or even petition His Majesty for justice.

It's not a matter of justice more a matter of being incapable to stick to international rules.

[Ulic]

Let us do what we want, when we want, where we want, how we want. Do not worry about fish,

next month or next year, do not worry about European market, do not worry about slave

employees, they are just Burmese, or Cambodian. When there is no more fish you can just

compensate us generously. No problem.

[LivinLOS]

There will always be rice in the fields and fish in the water.

Thai proverb (literal translation more in water there is fish in fields there is rice)

This is the built in mentality of the ages.

[wabothai]

Taken educational level It is understandable, after 1000's of years the rules have suddenly changed.

[kennw]

One more example of Thainess "why do we have to comply with international rules? "

[Thian]

In Europe i buy smoked salmon from Norway for 3 euro 200 gram, very good quality.

In Bangkok it costs 5.5 euro for 100 gram and that's a bad quality.

So guess what's in big quantity in our freezer.....Now i only hope we don't loose electricity during the rain.

[Jonmarleesco]

They expect HM to step in and arrange for regulations to be relaxed, just for them? I'm beginning to wonder whether the fishing industry operates from a location on a yet-to-be-discovered planet.